Stone Farm Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stone Farm Building |
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Stone Farm House, 2007
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| Location | Fleurs, 739 Fleurs Lane, Clermont, Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1880s |
| Official name: Stone Farm Building, Fleurs | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 August 2008 |
| Reference no. | 602555 |
| Significant period | 1880s |
| Significant components | dairy/creamery, cellar |
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The Stone Farm Building is a special old farm building located at Fleurs, near Clermont in Queensland, Australia. It was built in the 1880s and is also known as Fleurs. This building is very important because it shows us how people lived and worked on farms a long time ago. It is officially listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its historical value.
Contents
History of the Building
The Stone Farm Building is on a property called Fleurs. It was built on land chosen by William George Hatfield. His family picked six pieces of land next to each other in 1880. The family's main house was built on one of these pieces, where the stone building still stands today.
We don't know the exact year the building was finished. But in 1884, someone inspected the property and mentioned a dairy with an underground tank. Because the stone building has a cellar (an underground room), people think it might be that dairy.
Early Settlement in Clermont
The area around Clermont was first explored by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1844. He saw that it would be good for farmers, ranchers, and miners. In the early 1860s, gold was found near a place called Hood's Lagoon. This led to many people rushing to the area, and a settlement quickly grew. This settlement was later named Clermont in 1863.
In 1878, a large area of land near Clermont was set aside as a "town common." This meant it was land where people living in the town could let their animals graze. Maps from 1879 described this land as having "well grassed open downs," meaning it had lots of good grass for animals.
The Hatfield Family and Fleurs
On January 7, 1880, part of the town common was opened for people to choose and lease. William George Hatfield applied to lease 500 acres of good land. He officially owned the land by July 1885. By August 1884, there were several buildings on his land. These included a large house, stables, a coach house, and a dairy with an underground tank. The dairy was valued at £300, which was a lot of money back then. Local stories suggest that this dairy is the stone building we see today.
William George Hatfield was one of the sons of Thomas Hatfield. Thomas was a storekeeper and carrier in New South Wales. He moved to Queensland in 1867 because gold had been found there. Miners needed supplies, and copper mines needed their ore moved to the coast. Thomas used teams of horses to carry goods.
The Hatfield family, including Thomas, his wife Annie, and their seven children, settled in Clermont in late 1867. Thomas opened stores in different towns and even a hotel. He also started a ranch called "Yatton" to raise horses and cattle. As the mining town of Copperfield became less important, Thomas focused more on Clermont. He became a local leader, serving on the Clermont Council.
In early 1880, Thomas, his four oldest sons, and his brother chose six pieces of land next to each other. These lands were together known as Fleurs. The area had been named Les Fleurs, meaning "the flowers," because of its wildflowers. Fleurs was used to raise horses, sheep, and for dairying.
Thomas Hatfield passed away in 1882. His oldest son, Thomas John, took over Fleurs. He continued to raise sheep and cattle. The property was later bought by Randolph James Wall in 1909. Today, the farm is owned by William Fraser, who is RJ Wall's great-grandson. The stone farm building has been used for different things over the years, including as living quarters for sheep shearers. Now, it is mainly used for storage.
What the Building Looks Like
The Stone Farm Building is part of a larger property called Fleurs, located northeast of Clermont. It's a strong, single-story building made of stone. It has three rooms and an underground cellar.
The roof is shaped like a pyramid and is made of timber. It extends out to cover verandahs (porches) on all four sides. The roof is covered with corrugated iron sheets. The verandah roof is held up by wooden posts. There is also a newer verandah floor on two sides of the building.
The outside walls are made of rough stones put together randomly. They are covered with a special plaster made from "ant bed," which is crushed anthill clay. This material was used in rural areas because it was easy to find and helped keep buildings cool or warm. Not many buildings made with ant bed still exist in Queensland today.
The corners of the stone building and the areas around the windows and doors are made of bricks. This makes the building stronger and look nicer. All the window and door openings have brick arches above them.
Inside, the building is divided into three rooms. The walls between the rooms are made of timber. The two smaller rooms at the front are connected. The floor is made of timber. You can get into the cellar through an opening in the floor of one of the front rooms. A metal ladder leads down into the cellar. The cellar has small openings in its corners to let air in. You can still see traces of old paint and a white coating called "lime wash" on the walls, both inside and out.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Stone Farm Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 28, 2008. This means it's considered very important for Queensland's history and culture.
Showing History
This building was constructed between 1880 and 1884 for the Hatfield family. It shows us how early settlers in remote areas used local materials to build their homes and farm buildings. These areas didn't have easy access to towns or transportation for building supplies.
The cellar is a great example of how people used to store food to keep it cool before refrigerators existed. The building is still very much in its original form, including its roof.
Rare and Special
The Stone Farm Building at Fleurs is quite rare in Queensland. It's a well-built and lasting farm building made from random stone and covered with ant bed plaster, with brick details. This combination of materials and its good condition makes it a special example of old building methods.
